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Introductory Statement

The TSRA Board, as the accountable authority of the TSRA, presents the 2017-2018 annual performance statements of the TSRA, as required under section 39(1)(a) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth). In the Board’s opinion, these annual performance statements accurately reflect the performance of the TSRA and comply with section 39(2) of the Act.

Napau Pedro Stephen AMChairperson

Purpose

The purpose of the TSRA is encapsulated in the agency’s single outcome statement:

Progress towards Closing the Gap for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living in the Torres Strait Region through development planning, coordination, sustainable resource management, and preservation and promotion of Indigenous culture.

Results for Key Performance Indicators and Analysis

The key performance indicators for the TSRA were set out on page 305 of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio Budget Statements 2017-2018 and page 9 of the TSRA Corporate Plan 2017-2018.

Increase in the number of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal owned commercially viable businesses

In 2017-2018, five business loans were approved to support Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal businesses.

In the same period, business mentoring and support was provided to 11 clients.

Four Business Growth Package applications were received and two were approved.

Table 2-3: Number and Value of Concessional Business Loans

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Loans

3

5

1

2

5

Amount

$114,909

$928,213

$20,628

$162,000

$647,151

Increased availability of approved business training

The TSRA continued to provide face-to-face business training through the delivery of Into Business Workshops.

In 2017-2018, four series of Into Business Workshops were delivered (comprising workshops A, B and C); 113 participants attended the workshops and 26 participants completed the workshop series.

This represents an increase in the numbers of participants who attended and completed the workshop series when compared to 2016-2017. Post-course surveys indicate a very high level of participant satisfaction with the workshops.

Table 2-4: Into Business Workshops Participation

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Courses

6

2

16

18

12

Participants

24

17

79

110

113

Increases in catches by Torres Strait and Aboriginal Fishers relative to total allowable catch, strengthening claims for increased ownership

Progress against this indicator cannot be accurately quantified as the requirement to complete daily catch logbooks is not mandatory for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal fishers in the region. Therefore comprehensive data to measure tangible outcomes under this indicator does not yet exist.

The Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) brought in a mandatory fish receiver system for all Torres Strait fisheries except the prawn fishery from 1 December 2017. Licensed Torres Strait commercial fishers are now only able to dispose of their catch to licensed receivers. This will increase the accuracy of data for Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal fishers in the region for future fishing seasons.

There are ongoing discussions within the PZJA to identify and implement opportunities for better data collection; however, this is likely to be a medium-to-long-term outcome and remains a challenge for the TSRA and the PZJA.

The best available data can be obtained from the Fisheries Status Reports produced by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

One complete season of data is available for the tropical rock lobster (TRL) fishery, noting that in 2017-2018 the fishing season ran from 1 December 2017 to 31 July 2018 due to an early closure.

The total allowable catch (TAC) for the TRL fishery for the 2017-2018 fishing season was 254,150 kilograms, and was slightly over-caught (a total of 260,303 kilograms was caught). The Traditional Inhabitant Boat sector took over 49 per cent of the TAC for the season (see Table 2-5).

Table 2-5: Tropical Rock Lobster Catch Statistics

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Traditional Inhabitant Boat (TIB) Catch (Tonnes)

204.6

196.2

266.1

106.4

127.0

Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

415.8

519.3

537.3

334.1

254.15

TIB Catch Share of TAC (%)

49.21

37.78

49.52

31.85

49.97

Note: Fishery statistics are provided by fishing season, unless otherwise indicated. The tropical rock lobster fishing season is 1 December to 30 September.Catch reporting for the Traditional Inhabitant Boat sector is in transition and therefore actuals for any year are likely to be higher than reported.

Note: Fishery statistics are provided by fishing season, unless otherwise indicated. The finfish fishing season is 1 July to 30 June.Catch reporting for the Traditional Inhabitant Boat sector is in transition and therefore actuals for any year are likely to be higher than reported.

Note: Fishery statistics are provided by fishing season, unless otherwise indicated. The bêche-de-mer fishing season is 1 January to 31 December.Catch reporting for the Traditional Inhabitant Boat sector is in transition and therefore actuals for any year are likely to be higher than reported.

The percentage ownership of Torres Strait Commercial Fisheries by Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal People in the region

Increase in the number of emerging and professionally active artists and cultural practitioners that have access to information and support to ensure copyright and intellectual property rights

The TSRA conducted the annual Artist Forum in March 2018. The forum considered a wide range of topics, covering resilience and confidence, developing a capability statement, service agreements including copyright, communication, registering for an Australian Business Number and registering with Supply Nation, as well as presentations on the Indigenous Art Code, the Flying Arts Alliance, UMI Arts and the Copyright Agency.

Table 2-9: Active Artists and Cultural Practitioners

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Active Artists

100

110

117

151

156

Cultural Practitioners

77

80

90

85

30

Number of Native Title claims successfully determined

The Native Title Representative Body (NTRB) in the Torres Strait is operating predominantly in a post-determination environment with 29 Native Title claims successfully determined.

The claims currently being determined within the region are:

QUD6040/2001 Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim (Part B)

QUD6005/2002 Warral and Ului

QUD266/2008 Kaurareg People #1

QUD267/2008 Kaurareg People #2

QUD362/2010 Kaurareg People #3.

Of the 260 Future Acts notices received, responses have been provided to 258.

Table 2-10: Key Native Title Representative Body Results

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Active Native Title Claims under Consideration

3

2

5

5

5

Future Acts Notices Received

64

85

66

205

260

Number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) that have compensation or other benefits as part of ILUA terms

There were eight Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) registered with the National Native Title Tribunal in 2017-2018.

A further five ILUAs were executed by the parties in 2017-2018. These have been lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal for registration.

An additional 17 ILUAs have been completed and are awaiting execution. Six more ILUAs are being actively negotiated.

Table 2-11: Number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements Finalised

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Indigenous Land Use Agreements Finalised

4

12

11

7

13

Number of endorsed community based management plans for the natural and cultural resources of the region being actively implemented

Dugong and turtle management plans are in place for each of the 14 outer island communities and are being implemented by the communities with the support of the TSRA. The plans integrate traditional use and contemporary science and management approaches to support the sustainable management of dugong and turtle across the region. Each plan is currently undergoing review to bring more strength to traditional ways of governing the cultural protocols and management arrangements for use of dugong and turtle resources.

A dugong and turtle management plan and permit system for the Kaiwalagal region has been developed by Kaurareg Traditional Owners with support from the TSRA. Kaurareg Traditional Owners are now working towards endorsing the plan and determining how it can be implemented, also with support from the TSRA.

A biosecurity plan for the region has been drafted and will be launched in late August. Pest animal plans have been completed for four communities and pest animal control work has been implemented in those communities.

Working on Country plans are also in place for all communities. These were developed in partnership with key stakeholder groups in the individual communities.

Table 2-12: Community-based Management Plans

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Management Plans

32

32

32

32

37

Increase the level of engagement of elected Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal leaders in policy development and decision-making

The primary indicator of the level of engagement is the number of meetings between the elected members of the TSRA and government ministers. This includes engagements by the TSRA Chairperson and Board members during visits to Canberra, as well as the TSRA Board’s engagement with ministers during their visits to the region. In this reporting period, there were 20 high-level engagements with Queensland Government and Australian Government ministers and senior government officials.

Table 2-13: High-level Engagements by TSRA Board Members

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Engagements

29

35

36

41

20

Number of PBCs that achieve Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) compliance as at 31 December each year

Two PBCs have maintained a level of capacity which has reduced their dependency on grant funding by operating on a fee-for-service cost recovery model.

Table 2-14: Prescribed Bodies Corporate Compliance Results

Year

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

Compliance

20 of 20

21 of 21

21 of 21

21 of 21

20 of 21

Increased investment into new and existing regional environmental health infrastructure

The Australian Government and Queensland Government have provided $30 million for the Major Infrastructure Programme Stage 6 (MIP 6). Scope of works and design reports have been finalised for most MIP 6 projects. Tendering is complete or nearing completion and the staged construction programme has commenced, with 12 projects to be delivered.

The TSRA continues to fund a range of minor infrastructure projects. To date, the three regional councils have received funding for over 20 projects, including storm water and drainage upgrades, public toilets and a waste landfill site.

The TSRA secured $6 million in infrastructure funding from the Australian Government for the Prince of Wales Safe Landing Facility project, which will provide safe access for the community. The TSC is seeking development approval for the safe landing facility.

In June 2018, Telstra announced the successful completion of the $8.26 million Torres Strait Digital Foundation Project. The project commenced in January 2017 and has significantly improved the standard of communications available to residents of the Torres Strait region. The second phase of the project, known as the Torres Strait Digital Expansion Project, is valued at $15.62 million ($7.09 million from Telstra and $8.53 million from co-contributors).

The TSRA will continue to work with Telstra and all levels of government to seek additional funding to ensure that the telecommunications infrastructure in the Torres Strait region is capable of delivering the technology and innovation needed to protect our borders and deliver multiple socioeconomic, educational, health and community safety outcomes for the island communities and people of the Torres Strait region.

Since 2011, the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) has been a co-funded initiative of the TSRA and the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR). The TSRA contributes $500,000 annually to the scheme under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the department.

In 2017-2018, TIDS funding was approved for the TSIRC to contribute to the Hammond Island wharf upgrade.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) recognises the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate. We acknowledge the past and present elders of all Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area and respect the culture and lore of all Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in the region.